The Food and Agriculture Organisation, recognizing the contribution made by Mrs Bandaranaike in the field of food self-sufficiency in Sri Lanka, awarded her the Ceres Medal. The Director General Edouard Saouma presented her with the medal, so named after the Roman goddess of agriculture, at a ceremony in Colombo. Highlighting the differing aspects of her leadership, policies and pragmatic approach to agricultural development in the developing world, Mr Saouma opined that he could “think of no one who, by her actions on behalf of the needy, is more worthy to represent all that is symbolized by Ceres.”